Hovis was born in Wapato, Washington and as a child, moved with his family to Houston, Texas. As a youth, he started out as a singer, appearing on the television show, Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts as a member of a singing quartet, the Mascots. He graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in philosophy. During the 1950s, he sang in nightclubs, attempted to become a songwriter signing a contract with Capitol Records and releasing one album. Hovis appeared in the film Shadow Force in 1993. His last film was the 2002 film, Lonestar State of Mind where he played a doctor.